Irrigation control device for decoder-based irrigation system

ABSTRACT

Control devices for use in decoder-based irrigation control systems, and related methods, are provided herein. In one implementation, an irrigation control device comprises decoder circuitry located within a first housing and having an electrical connection configured to couple the decoder circuitry to a control wire path of a decoder-based irrigation control system; a coil located within a second housing; a first wire electrically coupling the decoder circuitry to a first connection of the coil; and a second wire electrically coupling the decoder circuitry to a second connection of the coil. The coil is configured to develop an electromagnetic flux sufficient to cause actuation of a device controlling irrigation equipment in response to signaling from the decoder circuitry. The first housing, the second housing, the first wire and the second wire are non-separably and functionally connected together.

This application is a continuation of U.S. application Ser. No.12/886,471 filed Sep. 20, 2010 which is a continuation of U.S.application Ser. No. 11/228,413, filed Sep. 15, 2005, now U.S. Pat. No.7,826,931 all of which are incorporated herein by reference.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

1. Field of the Invention

The present invention relates generally to irrigation control devicesand more specifically to decoder-based irrigation control systemincluding decoder units for coupling to actuator coil-controlledirrigation equipment.

2. Discussion of the Related Art

In decoder-based irrigation control systems, an irrigation controllersends signaling along a wire path to which one or more decoder devicesare attached. Each decoder device monitors transmissions on the wirepath and decodes this signaling to determine when to cause irrigationdevices coupled thereto to be activated and deactivated. The decodermodule typically includes circuitry formed on a printed circuit boardlocated within a housing. Wiring from the decoder module housing must becoupled to the wiring of the wire path as well as coupled to one or moreactuator devices each controlling the opening and closing of anirrigation rotor or valve. In one form, the rotor or valve is operatedby a solenoid coil as is well known in the art. Likewise, duringinstallation, the operator must provide and electrically connect twoseparate devices, a decoder module and an actuator coil module, to eachother and to the control wire path. FIG. 1 illustrates a separatedecoder module 102 and a coil unit 104 that are conventionally coupledtogether. For example, as illustrated in FIG. 2, for a solenoidactivated rotor assembly 200, the coil module 104 is coupled (in part bya bracket 212 and retainer 214) to the parts of a selector valveassembly 202 (including a pressure regulator) attached to a casingassembly 204. The electrical wire inputs to the coil module 104 are thenconnected to the electrical wire outputs from the decoder module 102,while the electrical wire inputs to the decoder module 102 are coupledto the control wire path from the irrigation controller. Thus, a typicalinstallation requires the connection of six wires to install the decodermodule 102 and a coil module 104.

As is well known, in operation, a portion of a plunger (not shown) ofthe selector valve assembly 202 is disposed within the coil unit 104while another portion is seated against a solenoid plunge port (notshown) within the selector valve assembly 202 in a normally closedposition. In this position, high pressure water flow from a main watercontrol valve (not shown) located within a main control valve portion206 of the device is flowed up high pressure water line 208 into theselector valve assembly 202 and its regulator and is prevented fromfurther movement by the normally closed position of the plunger againstthe solenoid port in the selector valve assembly 202. This results in aback pressure that causes the main water control valve to close. Inresponse to signals from the decoder module 102, the coil module 104causes the actuation of the plunger to move it off of (or unseat from)the solenoid plunge port allowing the high pressure flow in the highpressure line 208 to flow through the selector valve assembly 202 (andits pressure regulator), which relieves the back pressure and allowswater to flow through the main control valve and to a pop-up sprinklerdevice, i.e., the main water control valve is opened. The pop-upsprinkler device is located within the casing assembly 204 and extendsupwardly due to the water pressure through a top portion of the casingassembly 204. The high pressure flow exits the selector valve assembly202 down through a discharge flow line 210 which terminates within thecasing assembly 204 at a location downstream of the main water controlvalve.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

Several embodiments provide control devices for use with decoder-basedirrigation control systems. In one embodiment, an irrigation controldevice comprises decoder circuitry located within a first housing andhaving an electrical connection configured to couple the decodercircuitry to a control wire path of a decoder-based irrigation controlsystem; a coil located within a second housing; a first wireelectrically coupling the decoder circuitry to a first connection of thecoil; and a second wire electrically coupling the decoder circuitry to asecond connection of the coil. The coil is configured to develop anelectromagnetic flux sufficient to cause actuation of a devicecontrolling irrigation equipment in response to signaling from thedecoder circuitry. The first housing, the second housing, the first wireand the second wire are non-separably and functionally connectedtogether.

In another embodiment, a method of irrigation control comprises:receiving, at decoder circuitry located within a first housing,irrigation control signals from an electrical connection integrallycoupled to the decoder circuitry and coupled to a control wire path ofthe decoder-based irrigation control system; outputting, by the decodercircuitry and based on the received irrigation control signals, signalsto a coil located in a second housing via a first wire electricallycoupling a first connection of the coil to the decoder circuitry and viaa second wire electrically coupling a second connection of the coil tothe decoder circuitry, wherein the first housing, the second housing,the first wire and the second wire are non-separably and functionallyconnected together; developing an electromagnetic flux in the coil inresponse to the signals from the decoder circuitry; and actuating adevice controlling irrigation equipment in response to electromagneticflux.

In another embodiment, an irrigation control device comprises: decodercircuitry located within a first housing and having wires extending fromthe first housing that are configured to couple the decoder circuitry toa control wire path of a decoder-based irrigation control system,wherein the first housing is watertight; a wire coil formed about avolume and located within a second housing directly and rigidlyconnected to a valve assembly of a solenoid activated rotor assemblyhaving a pop-up sprinkler device, wherein the second housing iswatertight; a first wire electrically coupling the decoder circuitry toa first connection of the wire coil; and a second wire electricallycoupling the decoder circuitry to a second connection of the wire coil.The first wire and the second wire each extend between the decodercircuitry and the wire coil. The decoder circuitry is configured todecode data from a modulated power signal received from an externalirrigation control unit of the decoder-based irrigation control systemvia the control wire path and based on the data, and to output signalingto the wire coil based on the decoded data, wherein the data isaddressed to and intended for use by the decoder circuitry. The wirecoil is configured to develop an electromagnetic flux sufficient tocause actuation a plunger of the valve assembly controlling water flowto the pop-up sprinkler in response to current flowing through the wirecoil from the signaling from the decoder circuitry. The first housing,the second housing, the first wire and the second wire are non-separablyand functionally connected together. The decoder circuitry is one of aplurality of other decoder circuitry of other irrigation control devicesalso configured to be coupled to the control wire path. And, the firstwire and the second wire are integrally connected to the decodercircuitry and the coil such that a user is not required by make awireline coupling between the coil and the decoder circuitry duringinstallation of the irrigation control device.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

The above and other aspects, features and advantages of severalembodiments of the present invention will be more apparent from thefollowing more particular description thereof, presented in conjunctionwith the following drawings.

FIG. 1 illustrates a separate sprinkler coil and decoder module forcontrolling irrigation equipment in a conventional decoder-basedirrigation control system.

FIG. 2 illustrates a conventional decoder and electric sprinklerapplication including a separate coil module and decoder module.

FIG. 3 illustrates an integrated coil and decoder module for use in adecoder-based irrigation control system in accordance with oneembodiment of the invention.

FIG. 4 illustrates a decoder and electric sprinkler applicationincluding an integrated coil and decoder module in accordance withseveral embodiments of the invention.

FIG. 5 illustrates decoder circuitry and a coil module of the integrateddevice of FIG. 3 shown without the decoder housing in accordance withone embodiment of the invention.

FIGS. 6A and 6B illustrate other views of the integrated coil anddecoder module of FIG. 3 in accordance with other embodiments of theinvention.

FIG. 7 illustrates the decoder housing of one embodiment of the deviceof FIG. 3.

FIG. 8 illustrates a coil housing of one embodiment of the device ofFIG. 3 with a partial cutaway showing a wire coil.

FIG. 9 is a diagram of a decoder-based irrigation control systemincluding multiple integrated coil and decoder modules according toseveral embodiments of the invention.

Corresponding reference characters indicate corresponding componentsthroughout the several views of the drawings. Skilled artisans willappreciate that elements in the figures are illustrated for simplicityand clarity and have not necessarily been drawn to scale. For example,the dimensions of some of the elements in the figures may be exaggeratedrelative to other elements to help to improve understanding of variousembodiments of the present invention. Also, common but well-understoodelements that are useful or necessary in a commercially feasibleembodiment are often not depicted in order to facilitate a lessobstructed view of these various embodiments of the present invention.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

The following description is not to be taken in a limiting sense, but ismade merely for the purpose of describing the general principles ofexemplary embodiments. The scope of the invention should be determinedwith reference to the claims.

Referring first to FIG. 3, a perspective view is shown of an integratedcoil and decoder module 300 for use in a decoder-based irrigationcontrol system in accordance with one embodiment of the invention. Theintegrated coil and decoder module 300 includes a module body 302 (alsoreferred to simply as body 302) including a decoder housing 304 (alsoreferred to as a first housing) and a coil housing 306 (also referred toas a second housing, solenoid housing or coil unit). The module 300 alsoincludes electrical connector wires 308 and 310 (also referred to aselectrical connections 308 and 310) extending from the decoder housing304. The decoder housing 304 includes decoder circuitry (e.g., shown inFIG. 5) and the coil housing 306 includes a wire coil or solenoid (e.g.,shown in FIG. 8) formed within. Although the decoder housing 304 and thecoil housing 306 are separate functional components, they are integratedtogether to form a single integrated coil and decoder module 300.

Advantageously, since the module 300 is integrated into a single body302, an installer need only connect the two electrical connections 308and 310 to the control wire path of a decoder-based irrigation controlsystem. It is noted that any electrical connections between the decodercircuitry within the decoder housing 304 and the wire coil within thecoil housing 306 are already made and sealingly contained within thebody 302.

Referring next to FIG. 4, a perspective view is shown of a decoder andelectric sprinkler application including the integrated coil and decodermodule 300 of FIG. 3. In this embodiment, in a solenoid activated rotorassembly 400, the coil housing 306 (or solenoid housing) is coupled (inpart by the bracket 212 and the retainer 214) to the components of theselector valve assembly 202 attached to the casing assembly 204 (whichis typically buried underground or located within a valve box above orbelow ground). In the illustrated embodiment, the casing assembly 204contains a pop-up and rotary sprinkler device (not shown). Accordingly,an installation in accordance with this embodiment only involves theconnection of two wires (e.g., electrical connections 308 and 310) toinstall the decoder module 300, as opposed to six wires in the separateddecoder module and coil module as illustrated in FIG. 2. Thus, with thenew module according to several embodiments of the invention, the taskof installing a decoder module and coil unit is simplified since thereare fewer wires to connect. Additionally, this embodiment provides aspace-saving design that is more streamlined and easier to install withless clutter due to excess wires. Furthermore, the installer only needsto provide and install a single integrated device rather than purchasingand providing a separate decoder module and a separate coil housingmodule.

In operation, a portion of a plunger (not shown) of the selector valveassembly 202 is disposed within a core tube (not shown) that extendsinto the opening of the coil housing 306 about which the coil is woundwhile another portion of the plunger is seated against a solenoid plungeport (not shown) within the selector valve assembly 202 in a normallyclosed position (e.g., a spring within the core tube holds the plungeragainst the solenoid plunge port). In this position, high pressure waterflow from a main water control valve (not shown) located within a maincontrol valve portion 206 of the device is flowed up high pressure waterline 208 into the selector valve assembly 202 and its regulator and isprevented from further movement by the normally closed position of theplunger against the solenoid port in the selector valve assembly 202.This results in a back pressure that causes the main water control valveto close. In response to signals from the decoder housing 304 portion ofthe integrated coil and decoder module 300, the coil module 306generates a magnetic field that causes the actuation of the plungerwithin the core tube to move it off of (or unseat from) the solenoidplunge port allowing the high pressure flow in the high pressure line208 to flow through the selector valve assembly 202 (and its pressureregulator), which relieves the back pressure and allows water to flowthrough the main control valve and to a pop-up sprinkler device, i.e.,the main water control valve is opened. The high pressure flow exits theselector valve assembly 202 down through a discharge flow line 210 whichterminates within the casing assembly 204 at a location downstream ofthe main water control valve. It is noted that the core tube extendsthrough the bracket 212 and the opening of the coil module 306 such thata portion extends through the back opening of the coil module 306 andback side of the bracket 212. The retainer 214 is preferably a rubberend cap that is positioned over the portion of the core tube extendingtherethrough to hold the coil module 306 in position against the bracket212 and the selector valve assembly 202.

Referring next to FIG. 5, a view shown of the decoder circuitry and coilmodule of the integrated device of FIG. 3 without the decoder housing inaccordance with one embodiment of the invention. Illustrated is aprinted circuit board 502 including decoder circuitry 504 formed on orotherwise coupled to or attached to the printed circuit board 502. Alsoillustrated are the electrical connections 308 and 310 coupled to thedecoder circuitry 504 for connection to the control wire path of thedecoder-based irrigation control system, as well as electricalconnections 506 and 508 extending from the decoder circuitry 504 intothe coil housing 306 to electrically couple the decoder circuitry 504 tothe wire coil of the coil housing 306. It is noted that the decodercircuitry 504, as well as the coil housing 306 including the coil formedwithin, are well-known in the art. For example, in one embodiment, thedecoder circuitry 504 is found within commercial decoder modulesavailable from the Rain Bird Corp., Glendora, Calif., for example, asingle channel, single coil decoder (part number FD-101). Likewise, inone embodiment, the coil housing 306 is commercially available from theRain Bird Corp., Glendora, Calif., as rotor coil, part number 212165.

In accordance with one embodiment, a commercially available coilhousing, such as coil housing 306, is electrically coupled tocommercially available decoder circuitry, such as decoder circuitry 504,via electrical connections 506 and 508. Such decoder circuitry includeselectrical input connections, such as electrical connections 308 and 310to be coupled to the control wire path of a decoder-based irrigationcontrol system. The decoder circuitry 504 and coil housing 306 are theninserted into a volume (see volume 706 of FIG. 7) formed within ahousing, such as the decoder housing 304, such that the electricalconnections 308 and 310 extend through at least one opening formed inthe decoder housing 304. Generally, a portion of the coil housing 306extends into the volume formed within the housing 304, while the portionof the coil housing 306 that is adapted to mate to the selector valveassembly 202 extends out of this volume. Next, a sealant material isfilled into the remaining volume within the housing 304 in order tohermetically seal the electronic components within the housing as wellas to hermetically and rigidly seal the coil housing 306 to the decoderhousing 304. The sealant material may comprise any suitable pottingmaterial, such as an epoxy, that is initially in a liquid or fluid stateand filled within the volume, and which hardens or cures with time. Inother embodiments, other suitable sealants may be applied to theinterface between the decoder housing 304 and the coil housing 306without filling the volume of the decoder housing. Advantageously, theresulting module 300 is an integrated single device in which the decodercircuitry and the coil housing are rigidly fixed to each other and forma single integrated body 302. This embodiment is easy to construct fromcommercially available components. However, it is noted that in otherembodiments, the coil housing 306 and the decoder housing 304 comprise asingle housing that is not required to be coupled or otherwisehermetically sealed to each other. One of ordinary skill in the artcould certainly design such a housing. Thus, in such embodiments, thewire coil may be directly electrically coupled to the printed circuitboard 502 and the decoder circuitry 504 within the same housing.

FIG. 6A illustrates a perspective view of the integrated coil anddecoder module 300 illustrating one embodiment of connection openings602 and 604 formed in a bottom wall 704 of the decoder housing 304. Inthis embodiment, the electrical connections 308 and 310 extend throughthe openings 602 and 604 as the decoder circuitry 504 is positionedwithin the housing 304. FIG. 6B illustrates another perspective view ofthe integrated coil and decoder module 300 illustrating a sealant orpotting material 606 filling the interior volume of housing andpreventing moisture or other contaminants from entering the housing 304at the interface between the decoder housing 304 and the coil housing306 and at the openings 602 and 604. It is noted that in otherembodiments, a single opening (as opposed to the two openings 602 and604), is formed in the decoder housing 304 that any electricalconnections extend through, while a suitable sealant or potting materialseals the opening.

Referring next to FIG. 7, a perspective view is shown of the decoderhousing 304 of the device of FIG. 3. As illustrated, in preferred formthe decoder housing 304 has an elongated rectangular parallelepipedgeometry formed by side walls 702 and a bottom wall 704. A top end ofthe housing 304 is open illustrating a volume 706 formed within and forreceiving the decoder circuitry and in some embodiments, at least aportion of the coil housing 306. It is noted that the shape of thedecoder housing 304 may take many forms other than that illustrated.

Referring next to FIG. 8, a perspective view is shown of the coilhousing 306 of the device of FIG. 3 with a partial cutaway view to showthe wire coil. The coil housing 306 includes a coil portion 802 (orsolenoid portion) and a neck portion 804. In preferred form, a portionof the neck portion 804 extends into the volume 706 formed in thedecoder housing 304. However, in other embodiments, coil housing 306does not extend into the volume but nevertheless is rigidly andsealingly coupled to the decoder housing 306. The coil portion 802 ispreferably cylindrically shaped and formed about an opening 806. Thus,the coil portion 802 has an outer cylindrical periphery and an innerconcentric cylindrical periphery. The coil portion 802 contains a wirecoil 808 or solenoid (shown in the partial cutaway view of FIG. 8)wrapping about the inner periphery and sealingly contained within thewalls of the coil portion 802. As is well known in the art, the wirecoil 808 wraps about the inner periphery in a coil shape. Upon theapplication of an electrical current through the wire coil 808, anelectromagnetic flux is formed in the opening 806 of the coil portion802 about a central axis 810 extending through the opening 806. Thisflux is used to actuate a component 812 or device (such as a plunger)typically moveable along the central axis 810 (e.g., along the path ofarrow 814) within the opening 806 of the coil portion 802 in order tocause the opening or closing of a solenoid actuated irrigation valve(e.g., in one embodiment, by opening a valve of a selector valveassembly 202 controlling the solenoid actuate irrigation valve). Inpreferred form, the component 812 does not contact the inner surfaces ofthe coil portion 802 in the opening 806 and is metallic and/or magneticin order to respond to the generated electromagnetic flux. In oneexample, the component 812 is a plunger contained within a core tube(not shown) that extends through the opening 806 and is coupled to aselector valve assembly (such as selector valve assembly 202 of FIG. 4).The plunger is held in a normally closed position within the core tubeby a spring also within the core tube. Upon the application of currentto the wire coil 808, the plunger is caused to move within the core tuberelative to the coil housing 306 (and wire coil 808) and the core tubeto open the selector valve assembly as described above. One end of thecore tube extends through the opening 806 to allow a retainer (such asretainer 214) to help hold the coil module or housing 306 in positionabout the core tube and the selector valve assembly. Such coil housings306 including the wire coil 806, as well as core tube and plungerassemblies are well-known in the art.

Referring next to FIG. 9, one embodiment is shown of a decoder-basedirrigation control system 900 including several integrated coil anddecoder modules 300 according to several embodiments of the invention.An irrigation controller 902 provides a control wire path 901 extendingfrom the controller 902 into a geographic region where irrigation isdesired. The control wire path 901 is typically buried underground. Itis understood that multiple separate control wire paths may be outputfrom the controller 902; however, for purposes of illustration, only asingle control wire path 901 is shown. Typically, the control wire path901 includes two wires, a power wire 904 and a common wire 906. A powersignal, e.g., 24 volts AC, from the controller 902 is sent on the powerline 904 to any connected devices while the common line provides areturn to complete the circuit. Generally, the power signal is ofsufficient voltage to cause a magnetic flux in the coil housing to opena solenoid activated valve 908. In other words, the electromagnetic fluxis sufficient to control irrigation equipment. In a decoder-basedsystem, the power signal is modulated or encoded with data that isreadable by the decoder circuitry as is known in the art so that thecontroller 902 can control multiple irrigation valves using the singlecontrol wire path 901.

At various locations in the field, an integrated coil and decoder module300 according to several embodiments of the invention is directlycoupled to the control wire path 901. For example, at various locationsin the field, the electrical connections 308 and 310 are coupled to thepower line 904 and the common line 906. In one embodiment, the lines andconnections are respectively coupled together using twist-on wireconnectors and silicon grease to provide water resistant electricalconnections. The decoder portion of the integrated coil and decodermodule 300 decodes the modulated or encoded power signal on the powerline 904 and determines whether or not to provide the power signal(electrical current) to the wire coil of the integrated coil and decodermodule 300 (e.g., via electrical connections 506 and 508).

As described above, the wire coil generates a magnetic flux sufficientto cause device of an actuator or solenoid assembly 912 (e.g., in oneembodiment, to actuate a plunger of a selector valve assembly 202) toopen a normally closed solenoid operated valve 908 (e.g., in oneembodiment, a main control valve of a main control valve portion 206),which is coupled to a water supply line on one end and to one or moresprinkler devices on the other end. It is noted that in embodimentsimplemented in a solenoid activated rotor assembly for a pop-upsprinkler device, that a given integrated coil and decoder modulecouples to a solenoid operated valve 908 that couples to a singlesprinkler device; however, that in other embodiments, the solenoidactivate valve 908 may be coupled to multiple sprinkler devices. It isfurther noted that generally, a sprinkler device may be any rotordevice, stationary device, drip device, etc. As is known, there may bemultiple integrated coil and decoder modules 300 coupled to the controlwire path 901 at various locations. Advantageously, according to severalembodiments of the invention, by providing integrated coil and decodermodules 300 instead of separate decoder modules and coil units that mustbe coupled to each other and to the control wire path, the installationprocess has been simplified by reducing the number of wires than aninstaller must connect and by providing a more streamlined design at thecasing assembly 204. Additionally, the decoder circuitry and the coilhousing form a single rigid and integrated body.

While the invention herein disclosed has been described by means ofspecific embodiments, examples and applications thereof, numerousmodifications and variations could be made thereto by those skilled inthe art without departing from the scope of the invention set forth inthe claims.

What is claimed is:
 1. An irrigation control device comprising: decodercircuitry located within a first housing and having an electricalconnection configured to couple the decoder circuitry to a control wirepath of a decoder-based irrigation control system; a coil located withina second housing; a first wire electrically coupling the decodercircuitry to a first connection of the coil; and a second wireelectrically coupling the decoder circuitry to a second connection ofthe coil; wherein the coil is configured to develop an electromagneticflux sufficient to cause actuation of a device controlling irrigationequipment in response to signaling from the decoder circuitry; andwherein the first housing, the second housing, the first wire and thesecond wire are non-separably and functionally connected together. 2.The irrigation control device of claim 1 wherein the second housing isdirectly and rigidly connected to a valve assembly of the irrigationequipment.
 3. The irrigation control device of claim 1 wherein the firsthousing and the second housing are rigidly connected to the irrigationequipment.
 4. The irrigation control device of claim 3, wherein theirrigation equipment comprises a solenoid activated rotor assemblyhaving a pop-up sprinkler device, wherein the second housing is directlyand rigidly connected to a valve assembly of the solenoid activatedrotor assembly, wherein the first housing and the second housing arerigidly connected to the solenoid activated rotor assembly at a portionthereof that will be underground.
 5. The irrigation control device ofclaim 1 wherein the irrigation equipment comprises a solenoid activatedrotor assembly having a pop-up sprinkler device, wherein the secondhousing is directly and rigidly connected to a valve assembly of thesolenoid activated rotor assembly.
 6. The irrigation control device ofclaim 5 wherein the device comprises a plunger of the valve assemblycontrolling water flow to the pop-up sprinkler device.
 7. The irrigationcontrol device of claim 1 wherein the electrical connection comprises awire path extending from the first housing and configured to couple tothe control wire path of the decoder-based irrigation control system. 8.The irrigation control device of claim 1 wherein the decoder circuitryis configured to decode data from a modulated power signal received fromthe control wire path and based on the data, output the signaling to thecoil to cause the coil to develop the electromagnetic flux.
 9. Theirrigation control device of claim 8 wherein the data is addressed toand intended for use by the decoder circuitry.
 10. The irrigationcontrol device of claim 1 wherein the decoder circuitry is configured todecode data from a modulated power signal received from the control wirepath, wherein the data is not intended for use by the decoder circuitry,wherein the decoder circuitry is not responsive to the data.
 11. Theirrigation control device of claim 1 wherein the decoder circuitry isconfigured to decode data from a modulated power signal received from anexternal irrigation control unit of the decoder-based irrigation systemvia the control wire path, wherein the external irrigation control unitis directly coupled to a plurality of other decoder circuitry of otherirrigation devices via the control wire path.
 12. The irrigation controldevice of claim 1 wherein the first housing is hermetically sealed andincludes the first wire and the second wire extending therefrom.
 13. Theirrigation control device of claim 1 wherein the first housing defines avolume containing the decoder circuitry, and wherein a materialsubstantially fills the volume and sealing the decoder circuitry and theconnection of the first wire and the second wire to the decodercircuitry from external moisture.
 14. The irrigation control device ofclaim 1 wherein the second housing is hermetically sealed and includesthe first wire and the second wire extending therefrom to the decodercircuitry.
 15. The irrigation control device of claim 1 wherein thefirst housing and the second housing are watertight.
 16. The irrigationcontrol device of claim 1 wherein the coil comprises a wire coil formedabout a volume, and wherein an electromagnetic force is generated withinthe volume in response to the application of a current flowing throughthe wire coil.
 17. The irrigation control device of claim 1 wherein thedecoder circuitry is one of a plurality of other decoder circuitry ofother irrigation control devices also configured to be coupled to thecontrol wire path.
 18. The irrigation control device of claim 1 whereinthe first wire and the second wire are integrally connected to thedecoder circuitry and the coil such that a user is not required by makea wireline coupling between the coil and the decoder circuitry duringinstallation of the irrigation control device.
 19. A method ofirrigation control comprising: receiving, at decoder circuitry locatedwithin a first housing, irrigation control signals from an electricalconnection integrally coupled to the decoder circuitry and coupled to acontrol wire path of the decoder-based irrigation control system;outputting, by the decoder circuitry and based on the receivedirrigation control signals, signals to a coil located in a secondhousing via a first wire electrically coupling a first connection of thecoil to the decoder circuitry and via a second wire electricallycoupling a second connection of the coil to the decoder circuitry,wherein the first housing, the second housing, the first wire and thesecond wire are non-separably and functionally connected together;developing an electromagnetic flux in the coil in response to thesignals from the decoder circuitry; and actuating a device controllingirrigation equipment in response to electromagnetic flux.
 20. Anirrigation control device comprising: decoder circuitry located within afirst housing and having wires extending from the first housing that areconfigured to couple the decoder circuitry to a control wire path of adecoder-based irrigation control system, wherein the first housing iswatertight; a wire coil formed about a volume and located within asecond housing directly and rigidly connected to a valve assembly of asolenoid activated rotor assembly having a pop-up sprinkler device,wherein the second housing is watertight; a first wire electricallycoupling the decoder circuitry to a first connection of the wire coil;and a second wire electrically coupling the decoder circuitry to asecond connection of the wire coil; wherein the first wire and thesecond wire each extend between the decoder circuitry and the wire coil;wherein the decoder circuitry is configured to decode data from amodulated power signal received from an external irrigation control unitof the decoder-based irrigation control system via the control wirepath, and based on the data, to output signaling to the wire coil basedon the decoded data, wherein the data is addressed to and intended foruse by the decoder circuitry; wherein the wire coil is configured todevelop an electromagnetic flux sufficient to cause actuation of aplunger of the valve assembly controlling water flow to the pop-upsprinkler in response to current flowing through the wire coil from thesignaling from the decoder circuitry; and wherein the first housing, thesecond housing, the first wire and the second wire are non-separably andfunctionally connected together; wherein the decoder circuitry is one ofa plurality of other decoder circuitry of other irrigation controldevices also configured to be coupled to the control wire path; whereinthe first wire and the second wire are integrally connected to thedecoder circuitry and the coil such that a user is not required by makea wireline coupling between the coil and the decoder circuitry duringinstallation of the irrigation control device.